NXT Breakout Tournament primer and predictions

Dexter Lumis (Sam Shaw)

A former TNA wrestler who shined at NWA shows last fall, Sam Shaw joined WWE in February. It will be interesting to see how his character develops in NXT, as he could thrive as a sadistic heel, similar to the dark character he portrayed in TNA.

Of course, his character in WWE would probably be less on the “creepy” side and more on the “sadistic” side. The “Dexter” serial killer and “Loomis” from Halloween references shouldn’t be lost on fans, and Lumis has a chance to go far in this tournament.

Bronson Reed (Jonah Rock)

Although not a household name, Jonah Rock was highly-regarded on the independent scene as one of the best wrestlers in Australia. As Bronson Reed, he could be one of the favorites in this tournament, but he has a difficult first round matchup against Lumis.

Reed has already made appearances on the NXT house show circuit, and is an exciting in-ring talent who won a staggering amount of gold in Australia.

Isaiah “Swerve” Scott (Shane Strickland)

There’s a jarring amount of talent in the NXT Breakout Tournament, but perhaps nobody has more shine than Shane Strickland, who is one of the best wrestlers in the world.

Strickland’s poise and charisma are infectious, and he was a top star at MLW before leaving for NXT. There’s a good chance he gets more out of NXT than MLW, as he looks to step his game up to the next level.

“Swerve” looks like the favorite to win it all. He’s been a standout at countless promotions all over the world, including starring as “Killshot” in Lucha Underground. Strickland is a former PCW Ultra, CZW, EVOLVE, and MLW world champion, and there’s little doubt he’s a future NXT Champion. This man is one of the strongest story-tellers in professional wrestling, and he will take this tournament by storm.

Cameron Grimes (Trevor Lee)

A versatile pro wrestler who won the TNA Tag Team Championships once and the X-Division Title three times, Trevor Lee is exactly the type of pro wrestler WWE wants. Lee can excel in the mid-card and get himself over either with comedic skits or with engaging matches.

Out of all the wrestlers in this tournament, Lee may rival Isaiah Scott as the best character, and his work over the past few years in Impact Wrestling warrants high praise.

Angel Garza (Garza Jr.)

Garza Jr. is a stellar wrestler who had a wonderful career with AAA before leaving the major Mexican promotion in 2017, and he’s now ready for the next challenge in his career at WWE. And it will be a challenge for Garza Jr. to find his place, but his outstanding in-ring ability will immediately get him noticed.

Garza Jr. has also wrestler for Impact Wrestling, but this is his big opportunity to break out to a major American audience. He has immense upside in WWE, where his understated character work should blossom.

Joaquin Wilde (DJZ)

DJZ is a two-time X Division champion and a former Impact Tag Team Champion, but there’s so much more he can accomplish in pro wrestling. He overcame a ruptured colon in 2017, coming back months late. In Impact, his theme had airhorns, and, well, that’s his style.

DJZ’s in-ring style is loud and high-flying, which should quickly make him a fan favorite in NXT. He could be a strong part of WWE programming for years to come, though it will be interesting to see if he gets ticketed for a 205 Live run or a main roster run. Until then, NXT fans will enjoy every second of DJZ in the ring, and they’ll likely love his pure babyface character.

Jordan Myles (ACH)

ACH has won so many titles across the world that it’s ridiculous. He’s appeared at AAA and NJPW shows and was one of Ring of Honor’s best wrestlers for years. Having made his debut in 2007, ACH is one of the most experienced wrestlers in NXT despite having not appeared on television yet, so expect him to dazzle WWE fans in this Breakout Tournament.

ACH is the total package, and should also be viewed as a future champion.

Boa

The biggest unknown of the eight men competing in the NXT Breakout Tournament, Boa is listed at 6’4″ and has already been getting some wins on the house show circuit.

He was one of seven athletes signed by WWE from China in 2016 and has been a part of the NXT roster since. Boa has even wrestled Matt Riddle at a live event, and it will be exciting to get to know him better as a performer during this tournament.